World Cafe

1:42 pm

Tue January 8, 2013

The Last Bison On World Cafe

Few bands would categorize their sound as "mountaintop chamber music," yet The Last Bison's classical-influenced Southern folk-rock actually fits the bill. The septet emerged from the marshes of Chesapeake, Va., a couple years ago, and has since made a name for itself with its complex arrangements, refined lyrics and vocal harmonies. Singer-guitarist Ben Hardesty is the group's primary songwriter, and his style recalls the work of Mumford & Sons, The Decemberists and Fleet Foxes. (That said, none of those bands have a frontman sharing the stage with his sister, nor does a 75-year-old pump organ reside among their instruments.)

The Last Bison finished recording a new album this past July, and hopes to release it early this year. In the meantime, the band released an EP, Inheritance, last fall.